File holding device having stronger and lighter cover

ABSTRACT

A file holding device includes a cover device having an intermediate layer made of foamable materials, and two outer layers secured onto the two opposite outer sides of the intermediate layer, for solidly retaining the intermediate layer between the outer layers. The intermediate layer may be made of the lighter foamable materials, and the outer layers may be made of stronger plastic or synthetic materials for solidly retaining the intermediate layer between the outer layers, and for forming the stronger but lighter cover device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a file holding device, and more particularly to a file holding device having a stronger and lighter cover.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Typical file holding devices, such as document holders, record holders, files, clip boards, record folders, cardboards, leaf binders, organizers, etc., comprise an outer cover made of paper boards that may have a less weight, but, the paper boards are not strong enough and may be easily damaged or bent inadvertently.

[0005] The outer cover of the other file holding devices may be made of plastic materials, that may be stronger, but may have a great weight, and that may not be easily carried with the users.

[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional file holding devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a file holding device including a stronger and lighter cover, for allowing the file holding device to be easily carried with or by the users.

[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a file holding device comprising a cover device including an intermediate layer made of foamable materials, and having two opposite outer sides, and two outer layers attached onto the outer sides of the intermediate layer, for retaining the intermediate layer between the outer layers. The intermediate layer may be made of the lighter foamable materials, and the two opposite outer layers may be made of stronger plastic or synthetic materials and may be solidly attached or secured onto the outer sides of the intermediate layer, for stably or solidly retaining the intermediate layer between the outer layers, and for forming the stronger but lighter cover device.

[0009] The intermediate layer includes a thickness greater than that of the outer layers. The cover device may include one or more clips attached thereto for clamping and retaining paper sheets or document sheets or the like to the file holding device.

[0010] The intermediate layer and the outer layers include an outer peripheral portion, the cover device includes an outer peripheral casing engaged onto the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate layer and the outer layers, for solidly securing and retaining the intermediate layer and the outer layers together.

[0011] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a file holding device in accordance with the present invention, having a stronger and lighter cover device;

[0013]FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the file holding device, in which the layers of the cover device is partially opened;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the file holding device;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0016]FIGS. 5, 6, 7 are perspective views illustrating the other file holding devices having the stronger and lighter cover device in accordance with the present invention; and

[0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a housing having some of its portions made of the stronger and lighter cover device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a file holding device 7 in accordance with the present invention comprises a planar cover device 1 including an intermediate layer 2, and two outer layers 3, 4 disposed on the opposite outer sides of the intermediate layer 2, for allowing the intermediate layer 2 to be disposed or clamped or retained between the outer layers 3, 4.

[0019] The intermediate layer 2 is preferably made of spongy or foamable materials, or the other synthetic materials, that have a light or less weight, and includes a thickness preferably greater than that of the two outer layers 3, 4. The intermediate layer 2 thus may be softer than the outer layers 3, 4.

[0020] The outer layers 3, 4 are preferably made of plastic materials, or the other synthetic materials, that have a greater weight than that of the intermediate layer 2. The outer layers 3, 4 are stronger than the intermediate layer 2 and each preferably includes a thickness smaller than that of the intermediate layer 2.

[0021] The intermediate layer 2 may also be made or formed with the recycled or waste materials that may also have a weight less than that of the two outer layers 3, 4, for allowing the cover device 1 to have a decreased weight, about 20-50% less than that of the typical covers for the file holding devices.

[0022] It is to be noted that the outer layers 3, 4 and the intermediate layer 2 may be made of similar plastic or synthetic materials that may include vulcanizing agents of different proportions, for allowing the intermediate layer 2 to be softer than the outer layers 3, 4, and for allowing the cover device 1 to be formed with one or more molding or rolling or mold-injection processes.

[0023] As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the file holding device 7 includes an outer peripheral sleeve or flange or casing 11 engaged onto the outer peripheral portion of the cover device 1, and engaged around the intermediate layer 2 and the outer layers 3, 4, for solidly securing or retaining the intermediate layer 2 and the outer layers 3, 4 together.

[0024] The file holding device 7 may include one or more clips 10 (FIG. 3) disposed or attached therein for clamping and retaining paper sheets or document sheets or the like to the file holding device 7. As also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the other file holding devices 5, 6 may also include one or more clips 10 attached therein for clamping and retaining paper sheets or document sheets or the like therein.

[0025] Referring next to FIGS. 7 and 8, the further document holders or the file holding device 8 (FIG. 7), or the peripheral or cover portions of the housing 9 or of the still further file holding device 9 (FIG. 8) may also be made or formed with the planar cover device 1 as shown in FIGS. 2-4.

[0026] Accordingly, the file holding device in accordance with the present invention includes a stronger but lighter cover, for allowing the file holding device to be easily carried with or by the users.

[0027] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A file holding device comprising: a cover device including: a) an intermediate layer made of foamable materials, and having two opposite outer sides, and b) two outer layers attached onto said outer sides of said intermediate layer, for retaining said intermediate layer between said outer layers.
 2. The file holding device according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer includes a thickness greater than that of said outer layers.
 3. The file holding device according to claim 1, wherein said cover device includes at least one clip attached thereto.
 4. The file holding device according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer and said outer layers include an outer peripheral portion, said cover device includes an outer peripheral casing engaged onto said outer peripheral portion of said intermediate layer and said outer layers, for solidly securing and retaining said intermediate layer and said outer layers together. 